SDSU Opened New Metro Center in Sioux Falls
The 44,000-square-foot facility serves as a new hub for nursing and healthcare education in South Dakota.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Live Poll
Do you believe centralized university satellite campuses improve local access to professional training in your area?
South Dakota State University has opened the SDSU Metro Center, a consolidated hub for nursing, pharmacy, and other health programs. The facility is expected to bolster local healthcare education capacity significantly.
Why it matters
The center aims to address regional demand by increasing the number of Sioux Falls healthcare graduates by 40%. Centralizing these programs fosters interprofessional collaboration between various medical disciplines.
The $19 million project transformed a former grocery and medical equipment site into a facility featuring six clinical rooms and a PRISM simulation lab. SDSU expects to grow its local student population from 400 to 1,200 within five years.
The players
South Dakota State University
This public research university serves as the primary institution for nursing and health science education in the state.
SDSU Alumni & Foundation
This organization manages philanthropic efforts and property assets to support university expansion and infrastructure projects.
Avera
Avera is a regional health system that provided the facility property to support local educational growth.
The details
The facility at 33rd Street and Minnesota Avenue replaces previously scattered program locations with a single centralized hub. Following a one-year renovation, the site now hosts students across nursing, respiratory care, public health, and medical lab science programs.
Timeline
Avera gifted the building to the SDSU Alumni & Foundation in 2024.
The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony occurred on September 17, 2026.
Ownership transfer to the university is expected within the next year.
Enrollment is projected to reach 1,200 students within five years.
Market Landscape
The new facility reflects the broader trend of university-led healthcare infrastructure expansion intended to meet workforce demand. By consolidating resources, the institution positions itself to capture a larger share of regional health education enrollments.
Students and faculty will benefit from centralized resources and advanced simulation technology designed to improve training efficiency. Local patients may eventually see an increase in the availability of qualified healthcare graduates entering the workforce.
The takeaway
Centralizing health programs allows the university to maximize limited clinical training spaces and simulation resources. This institutional shift highlights the importance of philanthropic collaboration in scaling educational capacity for critical industries.
What happens next
The SDSU Alumni & Foundation is scheduled to transfer ownership of the Metro Center building to the university within one year.
Further reading
For more on the local healthcare employment landscape, visit Sioux Falls Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Collegian.
Live Poll
Do you believe centralized university satellite campuses improve local access to professional training in your area?
